Malak`s Simple Formula Creates Lockport Victory

June 02, 1987|By Jerry Shnay.

Lockport pitcher Bruce Malak`s secret of success was simple.

``Mix up my pitches, don`t walk anyone and let Providence hit singles all day,`` said the senior right-hander after he pitched the Porters into the Joliet Catholic sectional with a 7-2 victory Monday in the finals of the Lockport regional.

Outside of the second inning when the Celtics (34-4) jumped on Malak`s first-pitch fastballs for both of their runs, Malak kept Providence off-balance with his assortment of fastballs, sliders and changeups.

This was a sweet bit of revenge for the Porters (29-8), who dropped a pair of two-run decisions to Providence in the last two regional finals. It was the fourth consecutive year the teams have met at this level.

Next step for Lockport is a Saturday date against Montini in the Joliet Catholic sectional.

Malak (7-1) was helped by a pair of two-run homers, one by designated hitter Phil Alsot in the second and the other by right-fielder Mike Stevenson in the third. Stevenson`s shot, which barely cleared the fence in deepest center field, gave the Porters a 4-2 lead and from then Malak kept Providence at bay.

``He did what he had to do,`` said an admiring Providence coach Jaime Garcia. ``We were never able to get our running game going and we had to play too conservatively too early.``

``Providence thrives on your mistakes,`` said Malak. ``Outside of the second inning when they were hitting my fastball, I was able to change up a lot on them and keep them guessing. You could tell that because they were swinging a lot on high pitches.``

Malak allowed three hits, two in the second, while walking three and striking out five. Stevenson, who was three-for-three, also drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single in the sixth inning and made a couple of tumbling catches on line drives by Carlos Hayes to keep the Celtics at bay.

Providence rolled into the title game with 17 consecutive wins. In the second, the Celtics tied the game at 2-2 on Andy Carlton`s ground-rule double and Hayes` single as four of the seven batters in the inning jumped on Malak`s first pitch.

Jeff Jenco (9-2) went all the way for the losers, allowing eight hits, four walks and three strikeouts.

``I was nervous when I woke up this morning,`` said Malak, ``but during school today all the players seemed to be very confident. I didn`t want to lose to Providence again, so I even wore last year`s cap to remind myself of what I had to do. If we lost I don`t know if I would have wanted to wake up tomorrow.``